Tax credits

April 10, 2013

The BibleCode Sundays onstage. Picture: DT Films

By David Hennessy

BAFTA in Piccadilly was the venue for the April 5 premiere of Tax City, the short film written and produced by Andy Nolan of The BibleCode Sundays and directed by award winning Irish director, Tom Begley.

Those in attendance included the film’s cast, Baroness McDonagh and Tamer Hassan, the actor of The Football Factory and The Business, who was there to support his friend, Steve Collins.

Steve Collins and Tamer Hassan. Picture: DT Films

Tax City is the story of Johnny Costa (played by Jon Campling of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hollows 1 and 2), a rock star whose career is ended by a brutal mugging in which he is stabbed through the vocal chords. Having lost everything, Costa finds himself on the street and that is when he encounters his attackers once more. Known as The Taxing Squad, the thugs (played by former world champion boxer Steve Collins, Mark Hutchinson of RTE’s Drowning Rats and armed robber turned author, Noel “Razor” Smith) prey on the homeless.

Such was demand to see the film that two screenings took place on the night. The Polish singer Mags Hegarty kicked off the evening’s entertainment before Andy Nolan took to the stage with his band, The BibleCode Sundays. It was also the first showing of the band’s new video, Count Your Blessings which is also directed by Tom Begley. The video features Mark Hutchinson as a boxer fighting back to fitness with the encouragement of trainer, Steve Collins. Also featured are Hollywood A list actor, Mickey Rourke and Republic of Ireland and LA Galaxy striker, Robbie Keane. The editing of Count Your Blessings video was done by DT Films.

Prior to the main event and the new film, the audience were treated to Cold, one of Tom Begley’s earlier short films. Cold is hard hitting and addresses the issue of domestic violence. The film won an award for Best Short Movie at Milano Film Festival in 2011 and is now shown at women’s refuges in Milan.

Luke Ireland entertained the crowd with his impressions of Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken and Sir Ian McKellen. Prior to the film, Andy said a few words about how grateful he was for all the help he got with the film, saying he could not have done it without Tom Begley’s help. Andy’s next project will be the feature film, Clan London, directed by Danny Donnelly, which is the story of some London-Irish brothers who reluctantly take on their father’s criminal mantle and become big players in the London underworld.

The audience were also treated to a brilliant rendition of The Men Behind The Wire. After the film, The BibleCode Sundays played at an after party. There was a £5 charge with all money going towards a homeless charity.